Facebook has made its founders billions of dollars, spawned a hit Hollywood film and gained over 800 million users in just a few short years since its inception. It has become the go-to social network for anyone who wants to keep up with friends, share links and organize events. When Facebook Chat came to its browser-based iteration it was inevitable that a smartphone app with similar functionality would eventually follow.
Now it seems that the Facebook Messenger app is to benefit from an update which may allow users to make voice and video calls to one another, with significant implications for the mobile market as a whole.
The availability of high speed internet connectivity on modern smartphones means that VoIP voice and video calls have been possible for some time. However, mainstream acceptance of the technology came only after Apple's FaceTime service launched with the iPhone 4. Hitherto, desktop users had relied upon Skype and various instant messaging services for free, unlimited communications with friends and family. By including these features in the core capabilities of a smartphone, Apple was able to bring it to a much wider audience.
Facebook Messenger already undercuts services such as BlackBerry Messenger. Moreover, the recent inclusion of a feature which allows you to chat with users who are on different instant messaging networks (rather than necessarily logged in to a Facebook account) has made it even more of a threat to mobile phone manufacturers and perhaps, more pertinently, the network providers.
If users can chat without needing to send a text message or make a call, they will not be interested in tariffs that feature these services inclusively. Rather, the data allowance will become the most important asset. Moreover, the Wi-Fi connectivity of modern mobiles means that owners can harness high speed internet at home without going through their network provider whatsoever.
If Facebook Messenger is to deliver VoIP capabilities on top of its current cross-platform chat functions, some would argue that it could take on FaceTime, video calling and just about every other means of communication that the contemporary smartphone owner might otherwise choose. Leaked screen shots have shown what appears to be the Facebook Messenger app supporting video calling on an iPod Touch. Since the Touch runs the same software platform as the iPhone family, this hints at cross compatibility. In fact, avid software buffs took a look at the code of the original Facebook Messenger app after it launched on the Android and iPhone OS, discovering that traces within the program hinted at the planned delivery of video chat.
Of course Facebook already has much of the VoIP experience it needs to bring video and voice calls to its mobile chat application. In mid-2011 it announced a new partnership with Skype which brought video calling with full audio support to its desktop site. As such, making the leap to a mobile platform should be relatively simple.
This will probably be easier for the iPhone family because front-facing cameras have been a standard feature since 2010 in support of FaceTime. That said, Apple may be hesitant to allow a rival service to emerge on its tightly controlled products.
For Android users, the update might be a little less universal given the diversity of the hardware involved. Yet Facebook Messenger's experience has been consistent across the various platforms thus far and this is expected to be the case when VoIP services are brought to the table.
The updates to Facebook Messenger seem inevitable. As the social networking powerhouse announces new partnerships and acquisitions, its feature set could become ever more exciting. This is all good news for users, allowing them to make the most out of their high speed internet service and to save money on calls and texts. How well Facebook is able to cope with the associated bandwidth demands remains to be seen.
About The Author :
The above article is composed and edited by Lisa jane. She is associated with many technology communities as their freelance writer and adviser. In her free time she writes articles related to technology Broadband Expert, wireless internet, etc. For more information please visit http://www.broadbandexpert.com/high-speed-internet/
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The availability of high speed internet connectivity on modern smartphones means that VoIP voice and video calls have been possible for some time. However, mainstream acceptance of the technology came only after Apple's FaceTime service launched with the iPhone 4. Hitherto, desktop users had relied upon Skype and various instant messaging services for free, unlimited communications with friends and family. By including these features in the core capabilities of a smartphone, Apple was able to bring it to a much wider audience.
Facebook Messenger already undercuts services such as BlackBerry Messenger. Moreover, the recent inclusion of a feature which allows you to chat with users who are on different instant messaging networks (rather than necessarily logged in to a Facebook account) has made it even more of a threat to mobile phone manufacturers and perhaps, more pertinently, the network providers.
If users can chat without needing to send a text message or make a call, they will not be interested in tariffs that feature these services inclusively. Rather, the data allowance will become the most important asset. Moreover, the Wi-Fi connectivity of modern mobiles means that owners can harness high speed internet at home without going through their network provider whatsoever.
If Facebook Messenger is to deliver VoIP capabilities on top of its current cross-platform chat functions, some would argue that it could take on FaceTime, video calling and just about every other means of communication that the contemporary smartphone owner might otherwise choose. Leaked screen shots have shown what appears to be the Facebook Messenger app supporting video calling on an iPod Touch. Since the Touch runs the same software platform as the iPhone family, this hints at cross compatibility. In fact, avid software buffs took a look at the code of the original Facebook Messenger app after it launched on the Android and iPhone OS, discovering that traces within the program hinted at the planned delivery of video chat.
Of course Facebook already has much of the VoIP experience it needs to bring video and voice calls to its mobile chat application. In mid-2011 it announced a new partnership with Skype which brought video calling with full audio support to its desktop site. As such, making the leap to a mobile platform should be relatively simple.
This will probably be easier for the iPhone family because front-facing cameras have been a standard feature since 2010 in support of FaceTime. That said, Apple may be hesitant to allow a rival service to emerge on its tightly controlled products.
For Android users, the update might be a little less universal given the diversity of the hardware involved. Yet Facebook Messenger's experience has been consistent across the various platforms thus far and this is expected to be the case when VoIP services are brought to the table.
The updates to Facebook Messenger seem inevitable. As the social networking powerhouse announces new partnerships and acquisitions, its feature set could become ever more exciting. This is all good news for users, allowing them to make the most out of their high speed internet service and to save money on calls and texts. How well Facebook is able to cope with the associated bandwidth demands remains to be seen.
About The Author :
The above article is composed and edited by Lisa jane. She is associated with many technology communities as their freelance writer and adviser. In her free time she writes articles related to technology Broadband Expert, wireless internet, etc. For more information please visit http://www.broadbandexpert.com/high-speed-internet/
Related Posts:
Facebook Custom Landing Page - Photoshop Designs
Pinoy owns the first iPhone 4S in the Philippines
iPhone 4S price Philippines - Globe and Smart Comparison
Facebook Messenger for iPhone and iPod Touch
How to Use Social Network to Find a Job
Google plus vs. Facebook - An All Out War
Top 5 Facebook Apps
Unthink, a New Social Media Meant to Rival Facebook
5 Ways to Work Better with Facebook
Facebook Phone is Coming to Town